Self-wringing mops



March 26, 1957 J SCHLOEMER 2,786,220

SELF-WRINGING MOPS Filed March 23. 1954 SELF-WRNGWG MGPS Ilohatnunes Schloemer, Howard Beach, N. Y.

Application March 23, 1954, Serial No. 418,008

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-119) This invention relates to mops, and more particularly to improvements in self-wringing wet mops.

It is a well known fact that washing and scrubbing of doors is one of the less pleasant tasks of each housewife or cleaning personnel. Various devices have therefore been devised to possibly simplify and speed up such door sweeping work, with a view to eliminate all direct contact of the appliance operating person with the mop or sponge which is saturated with filthy water Ior skin irrirating liquid. The prior devices use more or less complicated wringing arrangements to bear against the saturated mop and remove the liquid, the arrangements using elaborate lever actions and push buttons to bring the wringing plate into contact with the sponge and return and lock it into its inoperative position. Due in part to their higher cost and also because of the relatively complicated mechanism, they did not ud general recognition by their users.

My novel appliance overcomes the defects of these conventional mop wringers in that it provides a simple, sturdy, reliable and universally usable structure which completely eliminates any contact of the operator with the liquid containing portion thereof. This is achieved by an attachment operated from the elongated h-andle portion and causing pivotal movement of a mop wringing plate, said pivotal movement being aided by gravity and a coil spring in the handle, which spring also locks the wringing plate when the same is not in use.

Since the mop wringing attachment is very light and simple to operate, the whole appliance is hardly heavier than an ordinary mop and may be handled without exerting any extraordinary force to the handle portion thereof.

The invention will be further described hereinafter, embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of the novel appliance showing the mop wringing plate in its inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the mop, showing the wringing attachment partly in section, and further illustrating the intermediate positions of the wringing plate when the same is brought from its inoperative into its wringing position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the mop, its support and the wringing plate;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through the upper end of the handle, `taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the device, showing the intermediate positions lof the plate when the same is brought from its operating into its idle position.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar elements throughout the various views of the drawings.

Referring now in more detail to the illustrated embodiment, Fig. 1 shows a mop 10 in its preferred form, i. e. with its floor contacting surface a somewhat inclined with respect to the surface 10b supported on car- States Patent O rier plate 11 by wing screws 12, 12a. Handle 13 is pivotally attached to two L-shaped plates 14, 14a by av bolt 15 and wing nut 16. Bolts and nuts 17 and 18 firmly hold L-plates 14, 14a on the carrier plate 11.

Mop wringing plate 19 is pivotable around shaft 20 along the longitudinal edge of carrier plate 11. Plate 19 is provided with a number of cutouts 21 and holes 22 through which the water escapes when the sponge is wrung by said plate 19. This plate 19 is also somewhat arcuate, as shown at 23, in order to receive the longitudinal edge 24 of the sponge 10 when pivoted around shaft 20 into its operative position. The other longitudinal edge of plate 19 is bent inwardly to receive a second shaft 25, the latter supporting the two extremities 26, 26a of the toggle mechanism which forms part of the wringing plate pivoting mechanism.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown the mop handle 13, compirsing an elongated tubular member 27 whose lower end has fitted therein a slotted member 28, held to said tube 27 by a pin or screw 29. This slotted member 28 embraces the two parallel halves of L-plates 14, 14a and permits their pivotal movement therein around bolt 15. A number of aligned holes 30 are provided in the split lower portion of member 23 to permit the'insertion of a cotter pin when aligned with holes 31 in the parallel portions of L-plates 14, 14a within said slot in member 28. ln this manner, the angle between the mop and the handle may be regulated in order to adapt the appliance to use by a short or a tall person.

The upper end of tube 27 is surrounded by a light weight sleeve 32 which slides on a brass tube 33, press tit onto said tube 27. This brass tube 33 is intended to reduce the friction between tube 27 and sleeve 32.

The upper open end of sleeve 32 is closed by a cap 34, secured therein by a pin 35 or in any other suitable manner. This cap 34 is suitably rounded so as not to injure the hand of the operator and has a bore 36 to receive the end of rod 37, said rod 37 passing through a plug 38 and screwed with its other end into a member 39 of fibre or the like. Plug 33 is stationary within brass tube 33 and is firmly held therein. by screws 40. A coil spring 41 is inserted around said rod 37 between plug 38 and member 39. The function of this spring 41 will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The lower end of libre member 39 has a bore 42 to receive the threaded end of another rod 43, whose lower threaded end, in turn, is screwed into a guide rod 44 slidable in tube 27, as better seen in Fig. 2, which is a smaller-scale continuation of the lower broken-olf end of the upper handle portion illustrated in Fig. 4. A hook shaped at link 45 is anchored in said guide rod 44 and is slidable in tube 27 within the slot d5. The members 37, 39, 43 and 44 thus form a unitary connecting rod structure which connects the sleeve 32 with the link 45, and the upper Surface of member 39 forms a shoulder for the lower end of spring 43. A bolt 47 locked by a Cotter pin 47a pivotally connects braces 26, 26a with said link 45, and transfers the vertically reciprocating movement of sleeve 32 on tube 27 into the pivotal movement of wringing plate 19 around shaft 26.

Theoperation of the mop wringer is `as follows:

`When in use, the appliance is held as shown in Fig. 2, i. e. with the handle 13 somewhat inclined so that the sweeping surface we of the sponge is parallel with and slides on the door. When it is desired to wring the collected liquid out `of the sponge 1l), the `sleeve 32 is pulled upwardly and carries with it, against the resistance of spring 41, members 37, 39, 43, 44 and link 45, which slides within slot 46. As the link 45 progresses upwardly, it carries the extensions 26, 26a, thereby causing their lower ends which are pivotally connected to wringing plate 19, to pivot around shaft 25 and thus pivot plate 19 around shaft 2t?? in the direction of arrow A outward-ly and away from tube 27. When this pivoting movement has brought the braces 26, 26a and the wringing plate 19 into the position shown in dotted lines, i. e. when the pivots 2i?, T25 and 47 are in one line, gravity causes elements 19, 26 and 25a to continue their outwardly pivoting movement which is further aided by the pressure of the coil spring 41, whose two ends bear against plug 32S and the upper end of member 39 `and cause said member 39 together with rod a3, guide rod 44 and link 155 to move downwardly into the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2, `and then downward pressure exerted by the operator Von sleeve 32. carries the plate 19 further to completely pivot around shaft ,2d into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 or in Fig. 5. The pressure of coil `spring ceases approximately in the positionrshown in dot-dash `lines in Fig. 2, and then the operator pushes sleeve 32 downwardly to bring about the described movement and to wring the liquid from the sponge 19. Thus, the function of the spring 41 in the upper handle portion is (a) to keep the wringing plate 19 in its inoperative position `shown in full lines in Fig. 2 when the mop is used to sweep the floor; and (b) to assist gravity in the `outwardly pivotingy movement of elements 19, 26 and 26a when the pivots 20, 25' and 47 are in alignment.y

To return the wringing plate 19 back into its initial position from that shown `on an enlarged scale in Fig. 3, i. e. when it wrings the liquid from sponge 10, a rapid outwardly directed movement is imparted to sleeve 32 and causes plate 19 to pivot around shaft 20 into the neutra-l position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the inertia of the plate created by said rapid movement will carry it from its neutral position into its idle or inoperative position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2. The presence of liquid and especially of soap in the liquid greatly reduces the friction `of plate 19 during its pivoting movement 'around 20 and 25, and also the friction between members 26, 26a and 45, thus making it possible to return the plate 19 into its initial position without any rotation of handle 13, as will be described hereinafter in connection with Fig. 5. Thus, gravity and pressure of coil lspring 41 `carry the plate 19 over its neutral position, Xand then the operators force applied to the sleeve 32 brings the wringing plate 19 into Contact with sponge 10. To return the plate 19 into its initial position, a rapid upward movement of sleeve 32 is transformed, via toggle mechanism 45, 4'7, 26, 26a into a pivoting movement of plate 19 around shaft 20, said pivoting movement being of relatively great angular velocity, and the inertia of the rotating plate 19 carries it over the neutral into its idle or inoperative position. After the release of sleeve .'52 by the operator, the spring 41 locks the attachment and prevents the outwardly pivoting movement `of plate 19 until the operator so desires.

Fig. 5 shows an alternat-ive manner of returning the wringing plate 19 from the contact with sponge 10 into its idle position. yIt will be noted that this gure shows the Iappliance after a 180 turn of handle 13, as compared with Fig. 2, in `order to bring the floor sweeping surface a of mop 10 away from the iloor into a position wherein the three pivot points 20, 2.5 and 47 are above the tube 27. By pulling sleeve 32 outwardly, the operator causes wringing plate 19 to pivot around shaft 20 in the direction of arrow B until it reaches the position shown in dotted lines, i. e. the position wherein the pivots 20, and 47 are again in alignment. The last portion of this movement has been performed by the operator against the resistance of spring 41. The force exerted by the operator on sleeve 32 is then terminated, 1and gravity aided by the force of compressed spring 41 brings the wringing plate 19 into its idle position, as `shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 5. The surface 10a of the sponge 10 is then brought into contact with the door `and the sweeping continues. The spring 41 again prevents any movement of wringing plate 19 from its idle position until sleeve 32 has again been pulled outwardly to repeat the `above-described operation ot the wringing mechanism.

A rubber pad 48 on the outside surface of plate 19 below pivot 25 abuts against tube 27 when the plate is in its initial position. Also, a ring 49 may be provided on tube to indicate to the operator how far the sleeve 32 may siide on said tube, and protects him against injury. leinforcing ribs Si) are impressed into plate 19 to prevent it from bending, especially when the plate wrings the sponge 1t).

The sponge shown in the drawings may be one of the refills readily available in commerce. t may easily be changed by simply unscrewing the wing nuts 12, 12a, placing the new sponge onto plate 11, and again tightening wing nuts 12, 12a. This carrier plate 11 also has a raised portion 51 which adds to its rigidity and prevents it from bending.

The commercially available sponge refills for mops consist of a sponge carrying at one of its surfaces a plate 52, the surface of said plate being somewhat smaller than that of the sponge surface or that of plate 11, as shown in Fig. 3. A canvas layer 54 is glued over said plate 5?; and to the surface of the sponge. Threaded bolts 55, 55a protrude through holes in plate 52, through canvas layer 54, and pass through holes in plate 11 to receive wing nuts 12, 12a and thus firmly secure the sponge to the carrier plate 11, as seen in Fig. l. A number of holes S3 in plate 52 are provided to increase the contacting surface between sponge 10 and canvas layer 54.

While the invention has been described in connection with the use of a sponge mop, it is understood that the sponge may readily be replaced by a string mop or the like without any changes in the wringing attachment.

Member 39 serves to prevent any lateral movement of rods 37 and 43 and to provide a shoulder which will bear against the lower end of spring 41. Member 44 also axially guides the rod 43 and firmly holds link member 4S to slide in the slot 46.

The whole structure is preferably made of alight weight material, such as aluminum or one of its alloys, with a view to reduce the overall weight of the appliance.

It will have been noted that a mop wringer has been described and shown in which a plate supporting the mop is fixed to a handle, and a wringing plate is pivoted around one longitudinal edge of said mop holding plate, which may be readily flung from its inoperative position into its wringing position, over the mop to squeeze the liquid therefrom, and then be flung back into its initial inoperative position. The positioning of the mop holding plate and the wringing plate together with the operative connection for swinging the wringing plate in relation to the mop handle may be changed, so as to permit the gravitational force to assist the work of the mechanism either to bring the wringing plate from its inoperative position or to bring it back into its idle position.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications may occur to those skilled in the art within the scope of this invention, as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a self wringing mop having a tubular handle, a carrier plate adjustably attached to one end of said handle, a cleaning element removably connected to the underside of said carrier plate, and an elongated wringing plate hinged to said carrier plate along a first longitudinal edge of the wringing plate, the combination of a sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted at the other end of said handle, a rod structure in said handle having a rst end connected to said sleeve, and a toggle mechanism for connecting said rod structure with said 'wringing plate including a link member having one end rigidly attached to the second end of said rod structure and extending from said handle, a pivot pin at the other end of said link member and at least one brace member having its ends pivotally connected to said pivot pin and to the second longitudinal edge of said wringing plate, respectively, and a locking spring in said handle operatively coupled to said sleeve at one end thereof and to said handle at the other end thereof for permanently urging said sleeve and said rod structure in a direction toward said cleaning element, said spring being adapted to maintain said second longitudinal edge of said wringing plate at rest against said handle and to pivot said wringing plate toward said cleaning element when said pivot pin and said edges of said wringing plate are moved in a common plane by said sleeve.

2. In a self wringing mop having a tubular handle, an elongated carrier plate adjustably attached to one end of said handle, an elongated cleaning element removably connected to the underside of said carrier plate, and a substantially rectangular wringing plate hinged to said carrier plate along one longitudinal edge thereof and normally resting against said handle with the other longitudinal edge thereof, the combination of a sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted at the other end of said handle, a locking spring in said handle operatively coupled to said sleeve for urging said sleeve in a direction toward said first mentioned end of said handle, a connecting rod structure in said handle having a tirst end connected to said sleeve and a toggle mechanism for connecting said rod structure with said wringer plate including a link member rigidly attached at one end to the second end of said rod structure and extending from said handle, a pivot pin at the other end of said link member substantially parallel with said edges of said wringer plate, and a pair of braces having their ends pivotally attached to said last mentioned edge of said wringer plate and said pivot pin, respectively, said sleeve being adapted, when moved in a direction away from said cleaning element and against the force of said spring, to bring said edges of said wringing plate and said pivot pin into a common plane whereupon said wringing plate is pivoted by said spring and by gravity around said first mentioned edge thereof and toward said cleaning element.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein a plug is provided in said handle in the proximity of said other end thereof having a bore for the passage of said rod structure, said sleeve having a closed end with said irst end of said rod structure attached thereto and said rod structure having a shoulder between said plug and said second end thereof, said spring being a coil spring inserted between said shoulder and said plug for urging said sleeve and said rod structure in a direction toward said cleaning element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,999 Ballam May 10, 1898 2,153,601 Vaughn Apr. 11, 1939 2,251,384 Thomas Aug. 5, 1941 2,596,026 Howells et al. May 6, 1952 2,716,768 Schwartz et al. Sept. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 477,171 Canada Sept. 25, 1951 553,287 Great Britain May 14, 1943 

